Adjustable nozzle



June 11, 1963 H0 CHOW 3,093,318

ADJUSTABLE NOZZLE Filed Feb. 28, 1961 3,093,318 ADJUSTABLE NOZZLE HoChow, Yonkers, N.Y., assignor, by mesne assignments, to InternationalPatent Research Corp, New York, N.Y., a corporation of New York FiledFeb. 218, 1961, Ser. No. 92,303 3 Claims. (Cl. 239--456) The presentinvention relates to an adjustable nozzle specifically designed to beattached to a hose and to be used for such purposes as the sprinkling oflawns, and in its more specific aspects relates to an adjustable nozzleof the gun type.

The primary object of the present invention is to devise a nozzleassembly which will permit ready and positive control of the type ofspray emanating from the nozzle, which will be reliable and relativelyfoolproof in operation, yet which will be inexpensive to manufacture.

Inexpensiveness is usually antithetical to quality. However, by reasonof the novel nozzle design here disclosed the usual conflict betweenthose two factors has to a large extent been resolved. Indeed, to someextent the very facts which make for the inexpensiveness of the nozzledesign here disclosed also contribute markedly to its superiorperformance. For example, the use of a minimal number of parts, as heredisclosed, both facilitates manufacture and improves operation. The useof a multiplicity of parts complicates assembly and thus adds greatly tomanufacturing expense. A multiplicity of pants usually produces leakageproblems, and requires manufacture to close tolerances, thus furtherincreasing cost. The greater the number of parts the greater is theliability to misfunction.

When a device is easy to assemble, it is often just as easy todisassemble, and this will interfere with its use, particularly where,as is the case here, manipulation of one of the assembled parts isconstantly required during the use of the product if it is to performits desired function. The design of the instant invention maintains theadvantages of easy assembly and avoids its usual disadvantages.

In accordance with the instant invention, an exceedingly simplestructure, which may be composed of as few as three parts, will functionas an adjustable nozzle with fully the same facility and reliability asmuch more complex prior art structures. The parts are so designed thatassembly during manufacture is facilitated and accidental disassemblyduring use is reliably and positively prevented.

To these ends the nozzle comprises an outer body, which is preferablyunitary in nature, wd a single valve memher, also preferably unitary innature, which is movably received within the body and which cooperatestherewith to control the nature of the fluid stream permitted to escapefrom the body. This valve member has a part which extends out through anopening in the body and which is accessible for manual rotation, toadjust the nozzle. The valve member and the body are provided withcooperatingly engaging threaded portions, :so that as the externallyextending part of the valve member is rotated the valve member will alsomove axially through the body, thereby to accomplish its adjustmentfeature. Escape of fluid through the body opening which receives theoutwardly extending valve member part is prevented by means of a sealingring received within registering grooves in the body and the valvemember respectively, at least one of those grooves being axiallyelongated so as to permit the valve member to move through its adjustingpositions without adversely alfecting the sealing effect of the ring.The parts are so arranged that threaded engagement between the valvemember and the body is initiated before the sealing ring and the grooveswith which that United States Patent 3,093,318 Patented June 11, 1963ring is to cooperate assume their operative sealing relationship.Screwing of the valve member into the body brings these parts into theirsealing relationship, the structure of the parts being such as tofacilitate this movement. Once the sealing ring is operatively receivedin both the groove in the body and the groove in the valve member, theconstruction of those grooves is such as to strongly inhibit escape ofthe sealing ring from those grooves, thereby effectively preventingaccidental disassembly of the parts and providing a positive stop forthe valve member at at least one of its extreme operative positions. Thestructure is such that the valve member is at all times properlylocated, supported and guided within the nozzle body. The parts aresturdy, and need not be manufactured to any great degree of precision.

To the accomplishment of the above, and to such other objects as mayhereinafter appear, the present invention relates to the construction ofan adjustable nozzle as defined in the appended claims and as describedin this specification, taken together with the accompanying drawings, inwhich:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a preferred embodiment;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary front elevational view thereof;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary rear elevational view thereof; and

FIG. 4 is a cross sectional View of the entire nozzle, a part thereofbeing broken away, taken along the line 4- of FIG. 2.

The nozzle body, generally designated A, may be formed in one piece, asby die casting of metal or plastic. It comprises a substantiallyhorizontal portion 2 having a horizontally extending bore 4 with an exitopening 6 at one end and another and larger opening 8 at the other end.Extending downwardly at an angle from the horizontal body portion 2 is ahandle portion 10 having a passage 12 formed therein which communicatesbetween the bore 4 and a hose-receiving internally threaded socketportion 14, a sealing ring 16 being received within a groove 18 at, thesocket portion 14.

The walls of the bore 4 just to the rear of the relatively restrictedexit opening 6 are tapered rearwardly and outwardly at 20, to define avalve seat. The bore 4, extending to the right from the walls 20 asviewed in FIG. 4, comprises a smooth-walled cylindrical section 22,followed by a section 24, opposite the passage 12, in which a fairlycoarse internal thread 26 is formed. Axially to the right of theinternally threaded section 24 is, in order, a cylindrical section 28, aring-shaped internal groove 30 extending completely around the interiorof the bore 4, and the rear opening 8, the axially outer portion of thatopening 8 being axially and radially outwardly tapered at 8a. The sidewalls of the groove 30 are radially disposed, therefore being abruptlyoriented relative to the bottom wall of the groove 30.

The valve member, generally designated B, comprises, reading left toright as viewed in FIG. 4, a front tip part 32 movable through the exitopening 6, a rear tip part 34- having tapered walls adapted to engagewith the bore surfaces 2t) when the valve member B is appropriatelypositioned, a forward shaft part 36 provided with a plurality of radialextensions 38 the outer surfaces of which are adapted to slidably engagewith the inner surface of the bore section 22, a rear shaft part 40which carries an external thread :32 which coopretes with the internalthread 26 in the bore 4, and a portion generally designated 44 ofenlarged radius which extends out with clearance through the opening 8in the body 2 and which carries, at its outwardly extending end, ahandle or knob 46. The axial inner end of the part 44 is provided withan axially and radially outwardly tapered surface 4-8 and with anexternal ring-like groove 50 which is axially elongated and which hassubstantially radially extending side walls which are therefore abruptlyoriented relative to the bottom wall of the groove 50. The valve mem berB is preferably unitary in nature, and may be molded or die cast ofmetal or plastic.

The only other part of the nozzle is a resilient sealing ring 52 of asize such as to be simultaneously received within the grooves 36 and 50and, when thus received, to sealingly engage the bottom walls of thosegrooves and thus prevent leakage of fluid therefrom.

Assembly of the nozzle of the present invention is simple in theextreme. The sealing ring 52 is first put into place either in the ring3i or in the ring 59. If it is to be put in place in the ring 3% it ispushed through the rear opening 8 in the body 2, the inclined walls 8afacilitating this action. If it is to be put in place in the groove 50it is slid over the left hand end of the valve member B into the groove50, the inclined surface 48 facilitating this action. The valve member Bis then inserted into the bore 4 through the opening 8 until theexternally threaded portion 42 engages with the internally threadedportion 26. This will preferably be when the valve member A is axiallypositioned with the projections 38 received with in the bore section 22,thus supporting and centering the left hand end of the valve member B,and before the enlarged valve member portion 44- with its groove 59 hasentered the opening 8. Hence, whether the sealing ring 52 is in thegroove 30 or the groove 58, it will not at this point be compressed.

Next the valve member B is screwed into the body 4, the threadedengagement between the threads 42 and 26 developing a strong forcemoving the valve member B to the left. This force will be suflicient,when the sealing ring 52 is engaged and compressed either by the valvemember part 44 (if the ring was initially in the groove 30) or by thebody opening 8 (if the ring 52 was originally in the groove 50), and incombination with the tapered surface 48 or the tapered surface 80respectively, to compress the sealing ring 52 and permit the groove 50'to move into registration with the groove 36, after which the sealingring 52 will resume its normal shape, engaging the bottom walls of bothgrooves 39 and 5t and will seal the opening 8 and prevent the escape ofany fluid therethrough.

The function of the inclined surfaces 48 or 8:1 in this connection isvery important. It is by reason of the inclination of those surfacesthat compression of the ring 52 is effected during assembly of the bodyA and valve member B. It has been pointed out that the side walls of thegrooves 30 and 50 are not inclined as are surfaces 48 and 80, but areinstead abruptly oriented relative to their respective bottom walls.Consequently, any attempt to unscrew the valve member B after it hasbeen properly assembled with the body A will be strongly resisted by thering 52. (See FIG. 4, showing the valve member B in its extreme righthand position, with the sealing ring 52 engaging the left hand side wallof groove 58 and the right hand side wall of groove 30 and thuspreventing further movement of the valve member B to the right.) Onlyexertion of extreme force, such as might actually destroy the sealingring 52, will be effective to disassemble the valve member A from thevalve member B.

When the valve member B is screwed all the way to the left, so that itsrear tip portion 34 engages with the bore surface 20, the nozzle will besealed closed, and no fluid can escape therefrom. At this point, asshown in FIG. 1, the forward tip portion 32 of the valve member A willproject out beyond the end of the exit opening 6. As the valve member Bis unscrewed and moves to the right as viewed in FIG. 4, the nozzle willbe opened and the nature of the stream of fluid emanating therefrom willbe determined by the relative location of the forward tip portion 32with respect to the exit opening 6, in conventional adjustable nozzlefashion. Rotation of the knob or handle 46, which is readily externallyaccessible at the rear of the nozzle, is translated into axial movementof the nozzle by means of the threaded portions 42 and 26. The left handend of the valve member B is at all times centered and supported by theprojections 38 which ride on the inside of the bore section 22. Axialmovement of the valve member B from its sealing position shown in FIG. 1to its fully open position shown in FIG. 4 is permitted by means of theaxially elongated nature of the groove 50 within which the sealing ring52 rides.

Thus the nozzle of the present invention permits ready adjustment of thenozzle, including close control of the type of fluid stream emanatingtherefrom, that control being readily effected by the user of the nozzlethrough rotation of the knob 46 while he holds the nozzle with one handby means of the body portion 10. Leakage of fluid is effectivelyprevented by means of the sealing ring 52 and the grooves 3i} and 59.The parts are truly minimal in number. The body A and the valve member Bmay be formed in one piece through suitable manufacturing techniques.The sealing ring 52 may be a standard commercial item. The parts areassembled during manufacture with the utmost in ease and security andthe design is such that the parts cannot readily be disassembled oraecidently separated thereafter. Consequently, although the nozzle ofthe present invention can be manufactured at a very low cost, it willnevertheless function in a manner entirely comparable with, and withequal or superior reliability to, the complicated and expensive devicesof the prior art.

While but a single embodiment of the present invention has been heredisclosed, it will be apparent that many variations may be made therein,all within the scope of the instant invention, as defined in thefollowing claims.

I claim:

1. An adjustable nozzle comprising a one-piece body having first andsecond angularly related parts, said first part having a nozzle passagetherethrough with first and second openings to the exterior of saidnozzle at opposite ends thereof respectively, said first openingdefining a fluid exit opening, said nozzle passage having first andsecond sections of relatively increasing internal size, said firstsection being located nearer to said first opening than said secondsection and being located between and spaced from said first and secondopenings, said second part having a feeding passage therethrough open atone end to the exterior of said nozzle and open at the other end to saidfirst section of said nozzle passage, said feeding passage meeting saidnozzle passage at said first section thereof, the inner surface of saidbody along said first section of said nozzle passage being provided, atleast in part opposite said feeding passage and extending to and openingon said second section of said nozzle passage, with an internallythreaded portion, the threads opposite said feeding passage beinginterrupted where said feeding passage meets with said nozzle passage, aunitary valve member movable in said nozzle passage, having a partextending out through said second opening, and having a valve tipmovable relative to said first opening to control the escape of fluidtherefrom, said valve element having an externally threaded portionengaging directly with the internally threaded portion in said firstsection of said nozzle passage of said one-piece body, and sealing meansoperatively engaging said valve member and said nozzle passage forpreventing fluid escape at said second opening, said second openingbeing larger in internal diameter and said first opening being smallerin internal diameter than said first section of said nozzle passage,said second opening being no smaller in internal diameter than saidsecond section of said nozzle passage and communicating therewithwithout constriction therebetween, whereby said nozzle passage may beformed in said one-piece body by operations all conducted from one endof said nozzle passage and said valve member may be inserted into andremoved from said nozzle passage via said end thereof.

2. The nozzle of claim 1, in which said sealing means operativelyengages said nozzle passage at said second section thereof.

3. An adjustable nozzle comprising a onepiece body having first andsecond angularly related parts, said first part having a nozzle passagetherethrough with first and second openings to the exterior of saidnozzle at opposite ends thereof respectively, said first openingdefining a fluid exit opening, said second part having a feeding passagetherethrough open at one end to the exterior of said nozzle and open atthe other end to said nozzle passage, said feeding passage meeting saidnozzle passage at a point between and spaced from said first :and secondopenings, the inner surface of said body along said nozzle passage beingprovided, at least in part opposite said feeding passage and extendingtoward said second opening, with an internally threaded portion, thethreads opposite said feeding passage being interrupted where saidfeeding passage meets said nozzle passage, a unitary valve membermovable in said nozzle passage, having a part extending out through saidsecond opening, and having a valve tip movable relative to said firstopening to control the escape of fluid therefrom, said valve elementhaving an externally threaded portion engaging directly with theinternally threaded portion in said nozzle passage of said one-p-iecebody, and sealing means operatively engaging said valve member and saidnozzle passage for preventing fluid escape at said second opening, saidnozzle passage having an internal ring groove adjacent the axial outerend of said second opening and located inwardly therefrom, said valvemember having an external ring groove registering with said internalgroove, at least one of said grooves being axially elongated, saidsealing means comprising a sealing ring received within and sealinglyengaging both of said grooves, said internally and externally threadedportions being so axially located as to engage when said external grooveon said valve member is axially outwardly out of registration with saidinternal groove on said nozzle passage, the further threading of saidvalve member into said nozzle passage bringing said grooves intoregistration.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS933,464 Kasjens Sept. 7, 1909 1,726,490 Irving et a l Aug. 27, 19292,362,946 Stockdale Nov. 14, 1944 2,519,737 Brassington etlal Aug. 22,1950 2,539,041 Stott Jan. 23, 1951 2,989,250 Simon June 20, 19612,991,942 Rosenkranz July 11, 196 1

1. AN ADJUSTABLE NOZZLE COMPRISING A ONE-PIECE BODY HAVING FIRST AND SECOND ANGULARLY RELATED PARTS, SAID FIRST PART HAVING A NOZZLE PASSAGE THERETHROUGH WITH FIRST AND SECOND OPENINGS TO THE EXTERIOR OF SAID NOZZLE AT OPPOSITE ENDS THEREOF RESPECTIVELY, SAID FIRST OPENING DEFINING A FLUID EXIT OPENING, SAID NOZZLE PASSAGE HAVING FIRST AND SECOND SECTIONS OF RELATIVELY INCREASING INTERNAL SIZE, SAID FIRST SECTION BEING LOCATED NEARER TO SAID FIRST OPENING THAN SAID SECOND SECTION AND BEING LOCATED BETWEEN AND SPACED FROM SAID FIRST AND SECOND OPENINGS, SAID SECOND PART HAVING A FEEDING PASSAGE THERETHROUGH OPEN AT ONE END TO THE EXTERIOR OF SAID NOZZLE AND OPEN AT THE OTHER END TO SAID FIRST SECTION OF SAID NOZZLE PASSAGE, SAID FEEDING PASSAGE MEETING SAID NOZZLE PASSAGE AT SAID FIRST SECTION THEREOF, THE INNER SURFACE OF SAID BODY ALONG SAID FIRST SECTION OF SAID NOZZLE PASSAGE BEING PROVIDED, AT LEAST IN PART OPPOSITE SAID FEEDING PASSAGE AND EXTENDING TO AND OPENING ON SAID SECOND SECTION OF SAID NOZZLE PASSAGE, WITH AN INTERNALLY THREADED PORTION, THE THREADS OPPOSITE SAID FEEDING PASSAGE BEING INTERRUPTED WHERE SAID FEEDING PASSAGE MEETS WITH SAID NOZZLE PASSAGE, A UNITARY VALVE MEMBER MOVABLE IN SAID NOZZLE PASSAGE, HAVING A PART EXTENDING OUT THROUGH SAID SECOND OPENING, AND HAVING A VALVE TIP MOVABLE RELATIVE TO SAID FIRST OPENING TO CONTROL THE ESCAPE OF FLUID THEREFROM, SAID VALVE ELEMENT HAVING AN EXTERNALLY THREADED PORTION ENGAGING DIRECTLY WITH THE INTERNALLY THREADED PORTION IN SAID FIRST SECTION OF SAID NOZZLE PASSAGE OF SAID ONE-PIECE BODY, AND SEALING MEANS OPERATIVELY ENGAGING SAID VALVE MEMBER AND SAID NOZZLE PASSAGE FOR PREVENTING FLUID ESCAPE AT SAID SECOND OPENING, SAID SECOND OPENING BEING LARGER IN INTERNAL DIAMETER AND SAID FIRST OPENING BEING SMALLER IN INTERNAL DIAMETER THAN SAID FIRST SECTION OF SAID NOZZLE PASSAGE, SAID SECOND OPENING BEING NO SMALLER IN INTERNAL DIAMETER THAN SAID SECOND SECTION OF SAID NOZZLE PASSAGE AND COMMUNICATING THEREWITH WITHOUT CONSTRICTION THEREBETWEEN, WHEREBY SAID NOZZLE PASSAGE MAY BE FORMED IN SAID ONE-PIECE BODY BY OPERATIONS ALL CONDUCTED FROM ONE END OF SAID NOZZLE PASSAGE AND SAID VALVE MEMBER MAY BE INSERTED INTO AND REMOVED FROM SAID NOZZLE PASSAGE VIA SAID END THEREOF. 